Film holder



NOV. 20, 1945. E FQRSSELL 2,389,495

FILM HOLDER Filed Jan. l2, 1945 m1671227' Erw nel( 5y MM@ Patented Nov. 20, 1945 Erie G. reissen, "Kenmore, N. Y., assigner ,to W. H. Miner, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application January 12, 1945, Serial No. 572,560 (Cl. 25o-66) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in lm holders employed inX-ray photographing steel castings, and more particularly iilm holders adapted for use in connection with steel castings. in the form of tubular casing's or shells.

One object of the invention is to provide a ii-lm holder ofthe character indicated designed to fit the interior of a tubular casing tofbe Xeray photographed and` adapted to hold a continuous film extending entirely around the inner side'of the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tubular iilm holder comprising inner and outer, tubular' shells 'adapted to enclose a tubular photographic nlm. therebetween, wherein `,the portions f the tubular at the side of the. holder opposite to that being exposed'. tothe effect of the X-rays is protected -against said rays by suitable screening means,

A more specific obje-t of' the inrentionfis to provide a iilm holder, as set forth in the preced' ing paragraph, wherein the screening means is in the form "of a lead -core enclosed'within the inner tubular shell and arranged4 lengthwise of the iilrnholder.

A still further object of the invention is to pro`- vide a simpl'eand eihcient nlm holder of the character indicated, comprising inner and outer tubular -shells adapted to enclose a tubular photographi-c film therebetween, caps atopposite ends of said inner and outer shells-fitting' within the oppositeends of the inner shelland having' flange portions engaged over the outer shell at the corresponding ends thereof to claim)k said inner and outerfshells together, a removable central retaining or anchoring 'member extending from one cap to the other and hec/ing` shouldered engagement' therewith for holding the film holder assembled, and a tubular lead `member surrounding said anchoring member-forming -a screen for preventing X-rays from penetrating from one side ofthe fllm holder to the other.v Y

Another object' of theinvention is toprovide a filmholder-as set forth in the preceding para` graph, wherein' the inner vti-ibula'rl shell ismade of Yiiexible material so'that it maybe contracted to receivetheftubular filmandexpanded' to hold the lm against the outer shell,v andwherein readily accessible and'\cori-veillentlInfini-1"allij' actuated' means is provided for contracting said inner shell.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specication, Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view otmy'improved nlm holder. Figure 2 is a front elevational view of Figure l, looking from left to right. Figure 3 is 'a transverse, vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 3-'-3 of Figure 1. f

As shown in the drawing, my improved. iilm 'holder ooniprises broadly aninne'r tubular shell A oi flexible material; an outer tubular shelflB of flexible materiaha front cap C; a rear cap D; a retaining element E; a tubular screen element F; and a screen element in the form 'of a collar G.

Theshells A'and B arev of elongated, tubular form and made-of vflexible material, preferably ber, and in assembled condition provide'a cas-v ing. The shells A and B are prcferablymade of. hexagonal, vtransversel cross section, but may be of other contours to t the particular steel easing or shell to be X-raycd. The inner shell fits within the outer shell with sufficient 'space therebetween to accommodatea sngle'thickness of. sensitized. photographicfilm. The film, which is indicatedv byl l0, may be either in the form of a tubular member `or a continu-ous sheet or strip. When a tubular iilin member isy used, it is--preferably in the form of a cylinder and. is pressed to hexagonal Ashape when enclosed between the shells A and B. The' inner shell A. has the diverging top and bottom walls ais-opposite sides thereof connected by vertically extending, :dexi-ble strips' l|--H,v which. are fixed `to said walls. The strips Il-Il are connected to the vertical side walls of the innerhexagonal shellby horizontally extending, flexible strips |-2f|2` secured respectively to said vertical side walls andthe strips l' l"-H. The strips H -ll form convenient means for contracting the shellA in applying the hlm to the same,` the strips I I-l l being gripped between the iing'ers and pulled together, thereby contracting the shell, the strips H pulling the top and bottom walls inwardly and the strips -l2 pulling the side walls. inwardly; When contracted, the shell A may' bey readily' inserted Within the cylindrical film. After the shell A with the iilm thereon has been telescopen within ,the shell B, the operators grip is released from the strips H-l l, thus permitting the shell A to expand, assuming its hexagonal shape and thus shaping the lm to hexagonal form by pressing the same against the inner sides ci the; outershellB..

The caps C and D are of similar design, except as hereinafter pointed out. Each cap is in the form of a hexagonal disc having an inwardly cupped portion I3 of hexaongal shape, which lits within the inner shell A. The disclike cap is provided with a peripheral flange I4 which surrounds the cup-shaped portion I3 thereof and extends in the same direction as the wall I5 of said cupshaped portion. A groove I6 is thus defined between the flange I4 and the wall I5 which forms a seat in the form of a hexagonal channel, which receives the corresponding ends of the inner and outer shells A and B. The wall I5 is preferably slightly inclined to provide a flaring opening to facilitate engaging over the ends of the shells A and B. 'Ihe seat of the cap C receives the front end portions of the shells A and B, and the seat of the cap D the rear end portions of said shells. The cap C has a central opening I'I adapted to accommodate the front end of theretaining ele# ment E. The inner, transverse wall I8 of the cupshaped portion I3 of the cap D is provided with an inwardly projecting, central, hollow boss I9 of cylindrical, transverse cross section. The boss I9 is closed at its front end by a transverse, vertical wall 20, which is provided with an opening 2| to accommodate the rear end portion of the retaining element E. The opening 2I is concentric with the opening I1 of the front cap C but of slightly greater diameter.

'I'he retaining element E is in the form of an elongated, tubular sleeve having a laterally outwardly projecting, annular` flange 22 at the rear end thereof which shoulders against the wall of the boss I9. The sleeve E is threaded, at its forward end, as indicated at 23, to receive a nut 24 for clamping the caps C and D together. The nut 24 is provided with a, hand grip 25, which is pivoted to spaced, outstandingears 26-26 on said nut. A pivoted latch 21 is provided, adapted to engage the nut to lock the same against rotation; The latch 21 is pivoted to spaced ears 28-28, projecting from the cap C. The nut is provided with laterally outstanding, spaced lugs 29--29 between which the latch member 21 is engageable.

The tubular screen element F is in the form of an elongated sleeve of cylindrical, transverse cross section surrounding the retaining element E and having its front end abutting the inner side of the frontl cap C. 'I'he rear end of the sleeve F is seated in the opening 2I of the wall 20 of the boss I9 and abuts the flange 22 of the sleeve E. 'I'his sleeve is constructed of any suitable material which prevents the passage of X- rays, preferably being made of lead.

The collar G, which is also m'ade of lead, surrounds the boss I9 and extends from the cap D to the frontend of the boss. The sleeve F and the collar G together provide continuous screening means extending from end to end of the film holder, thereby shielding that portion of the film which is located in the film holder at applying the nut 24. The nut is then locked in glsition against accidental removal by the latch 'I'he hexagonal film holder illustrated is especially adapted for use in X-ray photographing steel draft gear friction casings of hexagonal, interior cross section and the film holder is designed to closely fit the interior walls of such a casing. Removal of the film holder from the draft gear friction casing is greatly facilitated by the use oi y the hand grip by which it may be withdrawn.

the side of the latter which is diametrically opposite to that exposed to the 'X-rays, thus preventing clouding of the film.

In loadingthe film holder, the lm is placed about the shell A in contracted condition, as hereinbefore stated. The shell A, with the Iilm disposed thereabout, is passed into the shell B and the Ashell A is then permitted to expand, shaping the lm to hexagonal form and clamping the same against the'interior of the shell B. The caps C and D are then applied over the ends of the shells A and B. The retaining element E is then attached and the caps clamped together by I claim:

' 1. In a film holder, the combination with a casing comprising inner and outer, tubular shells between which the film is adapted to be held; of a front cap and a rear cap closing the ends of said casing; and a retaining clamping element clamping said caps.

2. In a` film holder, the combination with a casing comprising inner and outer, tubular shells between which the iilm is adapted to be held; of front and rear caps engageable over the ends of said tubular casing; and an elongated retaining element extending from one cap to the other for clamping the same.

3. In a iilm holder, the combination with a casing comprising inner and outer, tubular shells between which the film is adapted to be held;

of front and rear caps closing the ends of said casing; and a lengthwise extending screening element within said inner shell.

4. In a film holder, the combination with a casing comprising inner and outer, tubular shells between which the iilm is adapted to be clamped; of front and rear caps closing the ends of said casing; and a central screening core in said holder within said inner shell extending from one cap to the other.

5. In a film holder, the combination with a casing comprising inner and outer, tubular shells between which the film is adapted to be held; of front and rear caps engaged over the ends of said casing; a lengthwise extending, central retaining member connecting said caps; and a tubular lead sleeve surrounding said retaining member.

6. In a iilm holder, the combination with a casing comprising inner and outer, tubular shells between which the film is adapted to be held; of front and rear caps engaged over the front and rear ends of said casing, said rear cap having an inwardly extending central boss; a central lead sleeve within said inner shell extending from the front cap to said boss; a lead collar surrounding said boss and extending the entire length of the same; and a retaining element extending through said sleeve and into the hollow boss of the rear cap, said retaining element having shouldered engagement with said boss and the front cap to clamp said caps.

Z. In a iilm holder, the combination with a casing comprising inner and outer, tubular shells of flexible material between which the film is adapted to be held; of means connected to the inner walls of said inner shell for contracting the same; front and rear caps engaging over the front and rear ends of said casing; and a retaining element connecting said front and rear caps and clamping the same.

ERIC G. FORSSELL. 

